Read More

The Ukrainian enjoyed an unparalleled amateur career, winning all but one of 397 bouts - and the sole defeat was twice avenged.

He turned professional demanding a world title challenge on his debut but had to settle for one on his second outing.

Lomachenko was beaten by Orlando Salido but was crowned featherweight champion in his next fight after inflicting a first defeat on Gary Russell Jr.

And by is 11th paid bout, Lomachenko had added world titles at super-featherweight and lightweight.

Campbell also enjoyed a decorated amateur career, capped with a gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012.

Campbell attempts to put pressure on Lomachenko (Image: PA)

But he found the paid ranks tougher to negotiate, losing surprisingly to Yvan Mendy in 2015, a defeat which saw him relocate to MIami, leaving his young family in Hull.

He rebuild his career only to suffer defeat in his maiden world title fight against Jorge Linares last year.

Again Campbell made changes to his team, joining up with trainer Shane McGuigan in London before going on to earn a shot at Lomachenko.

Lomachenko was content to box on the back foot in the opening minute, as if he was inputting Campbell’s stats into his boxing computer and allowing it to figure out a game plan. Campbell touched him up to the body with his left and a right hook found the champion’s gloves. Then a left hook landed to Lomachenko’s head with the visitor acknowledging the shot.

Lomachenko began the second session on the front foot as he pinned Campbell against the ropes and landed with his lead right as he began to work out a way under the Brit’s jab.

Campbell landed to the body in the opening exchanges of the third stanza, Lomachenko responded with a lightening jab and then a ram-rod back hand which momentarily stalled Campbell - but the Brit landed an uppercut to have the final say in the round.

Lomachenko was beginning to fire in the fourth round with his jab in particular finding a home and making itself comfortable. Campbell was forced to back-pedal as the champion found his rhythm.

Campbell looked to re-assert his authority at the start of the fifth session but was all too often finding himself open to Lomachenko’s jab. And inside the final minute of the round, anticipation rose as the latest assault from the champion gathered pace. Campbell looked to have found his feet again but Lomachenko was soon back on the offensive and the Brit looked close to folding when the bell rang.

Lomachenko slowed his attack down for the opening minute of the sixth round but eventually he clicked into gear and landed a three-punch combination on the ropes. To Campbell’s credit however, he answered back well with counter hooks, even if Lomachenko did shake his head in response.

Campbell was knocked down in the penultimate round (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Lomachenko was content to flick out his blurring jab as the fight entered its second half. But when Campbell landed it sparked the champion into action. The Brit landed a huge right hand which had Lomachenko in trouble but he recovered quickly to end the round on top with a punishing attack to head and body.

With both men forced on to the back foot in the previous round, it took until midway through the eighth session for Lomachenko to strike with a big right-left in the centre of the ring. Somehow a gutsy Campbell found the strength to respond but it simply sparked another sustained and frenzied attack from the champion.

A quieter ninth round followed with neither man showing the explosiveness of the previous sessions. Lomachenko was by now comfortably ahead on the scorecards however with Campbell requiring a stoppage.

The pace had definitely slowed by the 10th round with both men no doubt tired from their earlier exertions. A short left hook and a straight right landed for Lomachenko as he marched towards victory.

The pair exchanged a small word at the end of their fight (Image: Getty Images)

Read More

Sport top stories

Campbell had succeeded in dragging Lomachenko into the championship rounds but the champion had plenty left in the tank as he stalked his challenger around the ring. He finally dropped an exhausted Campbell with a body shot with a minute of the round remaining but could not quite finish the job.

Lomachenko sensed he could still finish Campbell inside the distance at the start of final stanza and launched yet another attack to the body. The champion switched upstairs with another assault but Campbell refused to go down and limped to the final bell.